Free TV for Carbondale, courtesy of Pitkin County
‘Line-of-sight' televisions will receive ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS affiliates
John Stroud
Glenwood Springs correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado
Friday, April 9, 2010
CARBONDALE — Carbondale-area residents can now get up to 13 channels of free television reception via the airwaves, thanks to the recent digital upgrade to the Pitkin County translator system.
Although located in Garfield County, much of Carbondale, upper Cattle Creek and parts of Spring Valley are in direct line-of-sight to the Sunlight Peak translator operated by Pitkin County.
The county recently converted its free, over-the-air television service to digital from the old analog system, which carried five channels.
Digital allows greater bandwidth, meaning more channels could be added to the system, according to the county's communications site manager, Dan Chicoine.
So, anyone with a TV and a simple antenna who is within line-of-sight of one of the county's six translator towers, can get high definition-digital reception for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS affiliates without cable or satellite service.
The system also includes the popular GrassRoots TV based in Aspen, which carries a variety of community programming from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, as well as Community Government Television (CGTV), which televises Pitkin County, Aspen and Snowmass Village government proceedings.
Crystal Valley residents, including those in Redstone, can also receive TV reception off the Elephant Mountain translator, and mid-valley areas, including parts of Missouri Heights, can receive signals from the Crown Mountain translator.
The Pitkin County translator system has served remote and rural residents beyond the reach of cable TV for several years, while many other Western Slope counties have long since dismantled their translator systems. Garfield County took down its translator system in the early 1990s, partly due to the cost to maintain the system.
Pitkin County spends about $75,000 per translator site per year to maintain the system. However, about 75 percent of the cost to do the digital conversion was covered by reimbursements from the federal government, Chicoine said.
"The digital conversion can now benefit residents within translator line-of-sight who want basic television but don't want the expense of satellite and cable systems," he said. "And, our translator system customers are getting a much better, clearer digital signal."
In order to receive signals from the translator system, residents need a digital-ready television. A converter box is required for older televisions, and will have to "re-scan" to find all the new channels.
Complete details on how residents can prepare and equip for digital TV service are available on the county's website at www.aspenpitkin.com/freetv, including suggestions for the antennas.
The county will also be conducting a survey of residents this summer to gather input on the new channel options, and help determine what other channels may be offered in the future.
jstroud@postindependent.com
To read this article from the source, click here.
Although located in Garfield County, much of Carbondale, upper Cattle Creek and parts of Spring Valley are in direct line-of-sight to the Sunlight Peak translator operated by Pitkin County.
The county recently converted its free, over-the-air television service to digital from the old analog system, which carried five channels.
Digital allows greater bandwidth, meaning more channels could be added to the system, according to the county's communications site manager, Dan Chicoine.
So, anyone with a TV and a simple antenna who is within line-of-sight of one of the county's six translator towers, can get high definition-digital reception for ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX and PBS affiliates without cable or satellite service.
The system also includes the popular GrassRoots TV based in Aspen, which carries a variety of community programming from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, as well as Community Government Television (CGTV), which televises Pitkin County, Aspen and Snowmass Village government proceedings.
Crystal Valley residents, including those in Redstone, can also receive TV reception off the Elephant Mountain translator, and mid-valley areas, including parts of Missouri Heights, can receive signals from the Crown Mountain translator.
The Pitkin County translator system has served remote and rural residents beyond the reach of cable TV for several years, while many other Western Slope counties have long since dismantled their translator systems. Garfield County took down its translator system in the early 1990s, partly due to the cost to maintain the system.
Pitkin County spends about $75,000 per translator site per year to maintain the system. However, about 75 percent of the cost to do the digital conversion was covered by reimbursements from the federal government, Chicoine said.
"The digital conversion can now benefit residents within translator line-of-sight who want basic television but don't want the expense of satellite and cable systems," he said. "And, our translator system customers are getting a much better, clearer digital signal."
In order to receive signals from the translator system, residents need a digital-ready television. A converter box is required for older televisions, and will have to "re-scan" to find all the new channels.
Complete details on how residents can prepare and equip for digital TV service are available on the county's website at www.aspenpitkin.com/freetv, including suggestions for the antennas.
The county will also be conducting a survey of residents this summer to gather input on the new channel options, and help determine what other channels may be offered in the future.
jstroud@postindependent.com
To read this article from the source, click here.
